Actually, the shooter is only charged with 2nd degree murder, so the only reason it will be the rest of his life is because he's so damn old (25 year minimum if a firearm is used - source). But since he's a retired cop, I'm sure the "justice" system will find some way for him to get off scot-free (citation needed).
This whole thing is just crazy. I'd much rather have people texting in the row in front of me rather than talking on the phone or to each other. Did he really think that the best way to watch a movie in peace was to murder somebody before it even got started? Did he think he could just sit down and enjoy the rest of the show?! WTF!
I think this guy's punishment should be a cell phone that only receives texts, that everybody in the US can send to whenever they want. No ringer silence option. Mandatory battery recharging. And he has to go to one movie a day with it. In the bad part of town.
What Rosa Parks did was an act of courage, but she also wasn't committing a capital offence either....
Neither Rosa Parks nor Martin Luther King were facing a life prison term. If they were, they might have behaved differently.
Mob lynchings were common enough to serve as a deterrent. While it might not have been a life prison term, there was a non-zero probability that some pissed-off racists might have strung up Rosa Parks with complete impunity. Let's not forget that MLK actually was assassinated for his beliefs.
i'd say it differs slightly in that the hearing of the things is not deemed expressly harmful, whereas the seeing of pornographic material is.
If I had to choose between my kids hanging out with teenagers that a) listen to neo-nazi music, or b) watch porn, I know which one I would pick. I don't know how anybody could come to the conclusion that listening to hate-filled anti-minority bile is somehow less harmful than watching a couple of consenting adults going after it.
Incidentally, indecency laws are made at the state level apparently.
Not all of them. The FCC censorship decisions are made at the federal level.
The guy "looking at his GPS" said, "I can't look at a map? What's the difference between looking at a paper map and looking at a map on the phone?"
Seriously? He thinks it's OK to do this?! Applying eyeliner, fiddling with phones, swatting at flying ants, switching out 8-tracks, refilling your coffee mug from a Thermos. All of these are dangerous/stupid to do while driving; I've done at least two of them at highway speeds. And I knew damn well I should have just pulled over first. The difference with texting is that you have people who do it habitually -- even continuously -- while driving. That is a big problem.
bullshit. You really think that the goal of this boondoggle was to put these bastards out of business? "Here, Aetna and BCBS, have a gazillion healthy premium payers that aren't going to cost you a nickel!" That's supposed to eliminate them? One of the reasons I'm against Obamacare is that I'm pro single payer. This system is definitely a step in the wrong direction. Why do you think the Republicans were all for this approach back in the nineties? It makes big businesses bigger, which means more campaign donations, and more lobbying opportunities when they go through the K street revolving door.
People lead busy lives and the prospect of trying to wedge a scary court case into it is enough to just say fuck it and agree to the search so you can go home.
It's the same as the "Do you want to fly today?" tactic used by the TSA. It's terribly effective.
THIS! If cops would start enforcing safe following distance laws that are already on the books in most jurisdictions, I'm certain injury accident rates would go way the hell down.
I have no problem with that. If you are crying so hard your eyes are bloodshot, you should probably pull over. Being incapacitated can take on many different forms. I got into a fender bender once because I couldn't turn my head sufficiently due to neck pain. I was just on my way to Walgreen's to pick up my medication, too.
I have no idea why they would call it a DUI though. Driving under the influence of what? Corticotropin?
Looking at a paper map is not considered OK. Why should looking at a digital map be any different. If you have your phone mounted on your dash with a GPS, that's one thing, but punching in an address on Google Maps while you're at a red light just seems like a dangerous distraction to me.
I poked around the blog a bit. It's more than a little creepy. They have people's resumes and pay scales available for all to see. That's just weird. What did the janitors at Olive-Harvey do to deserve having their names and wages published? That's wholly inappropriate, and not necessary to make the author's point.
What about corporations like Green Peace, or the EFF? Do they not have first amendment rights either? I'm with you, it seems like complete bullshit that big banks and oil companies can buy face time with their members of congress, but it's a slippery slope to start prohibiting lobbying by corporations in general. What about co-ops, clubs, churches, sole proprietorships?
We have gotten a little off-topic here, though. This case involves campaign finance, rather than lobbying per se. Frankly, I have no problem with Comcast spending $$$$ to oust a mayor, as long as the ads funded by those donations are clearly labeled as such. Not just at the end of a 30 second spot, but as a header through the whole advertisement. "This political ad paid for by Comcast." Not "People for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow" or "Happy Bunnies and Rainbows for Apple Pie and Grandma" or whatever the hell else they want to be called.
Funny thing about the first amendment. It includes this line about having the right to petition the government. Guess what that's also known as. "Lobbying"
Lobbying in general is not a Bad Thing (TM). But it's current incarnation, where money is proportional to the amount of ear- or face-time you get with your representative, is definitely not what the founders had in mind. Of course they also had in mind that only white male land owners could have any say in anything... so take that with a grain of salt.
At any rate, there are substantial changes that could be made to current lobbying rules, especially involving disclosure, and conflict of interest enforcement. But the biggest change would be if people started giving a shit. From what I can tell, that isn't going to happen any time soon.
I can do you one better. In my old neighborhood, the speed limit was 20mph with several signs posted at strategic locations. But when they added a new portion of the neighborhood, at the new entrance they put a speed limit sign of 30. One day I saw a cop parked in the new part of the neighborhood, so I asked him what he thought the speed limit was. "20," says he. I didn't have the balls to tell him he was full of shit. I would always go 20 anyway, because of little kids playing and whatnot, but I was surprised by his answer.
You obviously didn't read the rest of the statute.
A person shall not drive a motor vehicle if a television receiver, a video monitor, or a television or video screen, or any other similar means of visually displaying a television broadcast or video signal that produces entertainment or business applications, is operating and is located in the motor vehicle at a point forward of the back of the driver’s seat, or is operating and the monitor, screen, or display is visible to the driver while driving the motor vehicle.
(emphasis mine)
Luckily, it also specifically permits "A mapping display." Google glass obviously fits into that category. So any able-minded lawyer should be able to get that part of her speeding ticket thrown out. But even she admits to the speeding part.
I love this idea. Does anybody know whether it's been tried? Are there any logistical problems with it? Regulatory issues? What does it cost to ship a car cross-country this way? It's gotta be less than a plane ticket.
Tesla should adopt the Gadsden flag as their unofficial logo in Texas. Then they should run an ad campaign about how government regulation and lobbyists are hurting small business owners and stripping individuals of their freedom to choose a vehicle. It would surely drive up sales amongst Tea Party types here. Just don't tell them it's good for the environment.
While I get your sideways point about gun control laws, I would like to point out that there are already common sense restrictions on the press. The same company can't own all the newspapers, TVs, and radio stations in the same market area. Unfortunately scented insert bans didn't make the cut. Or a ban on time cube...
Slashdot Mirror
I think you misspelled "buttery"
It's a shame they forgot to run the "please don't shoot each other" banner before the previews. Maybe this whole thing could have been averted.
Actually, the shooter is only charged with 2nd degree murder, so the only reason it will be the rest of his life is because he's so damn old (25 year minimum if a firearm is used - source). But since he's a retired cop, I'm sure the "justice" system will find some way for him to get off scot-free (citation needed).
This whole thing is just crazy. I'd much rather have people texting in the row in front of me rather than talking on the phone or to each other. Did he really think that the best way to watch a movie in peace was to murder somebody before it even got started? Did he think he could just sit down and enjoy the rest of the show?! WTF!
I think this guy's punishment should be a cell phone that only receives texts, that everybody in the US can send to whenever they want. No ringer silence option. Mandatory battery recharging. And he has to go to one movie a day with it. In the bad part of town.
What Rosa Parks did was an act of courage, but she also wasn't committing a capital offence either. ...
Neither Rosa Parks nor Martin Luther King were facing a life prison term. If they were, they might have behaved differently.
Mob lynchings were common enough to serve as a deterrent. While it might not have been a life prison term, there was a non-zero probability that some pissed-off racists might have strung up Rosa Parks with complete impunity. Let's not forget that MLK actually was assassinated for his beliefs.
WTF? Since when does a US citizen not have a right to come back to the US?!
i'd say it differs slightly in that the hearing of the things is not deemed expressly harmful, whereas the seeing of pornographic material is.
If I had to choose between my kids hanging out with teenagers that a) listen to neo-nazi music, or b) watch porn, I know which one I would pick. I don't know how anybody could come to the conclusion that listening to hate-filled anti-minority bile is somehow less harmful than watching a couple of consenting adults going after it.
Incidentally, indecency laws are made at the state level apparently.
Not all of them. The FCC censorship decisions are made at the federal level.
The guy "looking at his GPS" said, "I can't look at a map? What's the difference between looking at a paper map and looking at a map on the phone?"
Seriously? He thinks it's OK to do this?! Applying eyeliner, fiddling with phones, swatting at flying ants, switching out 8-tracks, refilling your coffee mug from a Thermos. All of these are dangerous/stupid to do while driving; I've done at least two of them at highway speeds. And I knew damn well I should have just pulled over first. The difference with texting is that you have people who do it habitually -- even continuously -- while driving. That is a big problem.
bullshit. You really think that the goal of this boondoggle was to put these bastards out of business? "Here, Aetna and BCBS, have a gazillion healthy premium payers that aren't going to cost you a nickel!" That's supposed to eliminate them? One of the reasons I'm against Obamacare is that I'm pro single payer. This system is definitely a step in the wrong direction. Why do you think the Republicans were all for this approach back in the nineties? It makes big businesses bigger, which means more campaign donations, and more lobbying opportunities when they go through the K street revolving door.
People lead busy lives and the prospect of trying to wedge a scary court case into it is enough to just say fuck it and agree to the search so you can go home.
It's the same as the "Do you want to fly today?" tactic used by the TSA. It's terribly effective.
First step is wrong. Everybody knows it's ALEC who writes all the bills.
With the exception that the person surfing can sober-up in an instant.
I imagine that the distraction from texting does not magically go away the instant you put down your phone. I wonder if this has been studied.
THIS! If cops would start enforcing safe following distance laws that are already on the books in most jurisdictions, I'm certain injury accident rates would go way the hell down.
I have no problem with that. If you are crying so hard your eyes are bloodshot, you should probably pull over. Being incapacitated can take on many different forms. I got into a fender bender once because I couldn't turn my head sufficiently due to neck pain. I was just on my way to Walgreen's to pick up my medication, too.
I have no idea why they would call it a DUI though. Driving under the influence of what? Corticotropin?
Looking at a paper map is not considered OK. Why should looking at a digital map be any different. If you have your phone mounted on your dash with a GPS, that's one thing, but punching in an address on Google Maps while you're at a red light just seems like a dangerous distraction to me.
I poked around the blog a bit. It's more than a little creepy. They have people's resumes and pay scales available for all to see. That's just weird. What did the janitors at Olive-Harvey do to deserve having their names and wages published? That's wholly inappropriate, and not necessary to make the author's point.
What about corporations like Green Peace, or the EFF? Do they not have first amendment rights either? I'm with you, it seems like complete bullshit that big banks and oil companies can buy face time with their members of congress, but it's a slippery slope to start prohibiting lobbying by corporations in general. What about co-ops, clubs, churches, sole proprietorships?
We have gotten a little off-topic here, though. This case involves campaign finance, rather than lobbying per se. Frankly, I have no problem with Comcast spending $$$$ to oust a mayor, as long as the ads funded by those donations are clearly labeled as such. Not just at the end of a 30 second spot, but as a header through the whole advertisement. "This political ad paid for by Comcast." Not "People for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow" or "Happy Bunnies and Rainbows for Apple Pie and Grandma" or whatever the hell else they want to be called.
Funny thing about the first amendment. It includes this line about having the right to petition the government. Guess what that's also known as. "Lobbying"
Lobbying in general is not a Bad Thing (TM). But it's current incarnation, where money is proportional to the amount of ear- or face-time you get with your representative, is definitely not what the founders had in mind. Of course they also had in mind that only white male land owners could have any say in anything... so take that with a grain of salt.
At any rate, there are substantial changes that could be made to current lobbying rules, especially involving disclosure, and conflict of interest enforcement. But the biggest change would be if people started giving a shit. From what I can tell, that isn't going to happen any time soon.
I can do you one better. In my old neighborhood, the speed limit was 20mph with several signs posted at strategic locations. But when they added a new portion of the neighborhood, at the new entrance they put a speed limit sign of 30. One day I saw a cop parked in the new part of the neighborhood, so I asked him what he thought the speed limit was. "20," says he. I didn't have the balls to tell him he was full of shit. I would always go 20 anyway, because of little kids playing and whatnot, but I was surprised by his answer.
You obviously didn't read the rest of the statute.
A person shall not drive a motor vehicle if a television receiver, a video monitor, or a television or video screen, or any other similar means of visually displaying a television broadcast or video signal that produces entertainment or business applications, is operating and is located in the motor vehicle at a point forward of the back of the driver’s seat, or is operating and the monitor, screen, or display is visible to the driver while driving the motor vehicle.
(emphasis mine)
Luckily, it also specifically permits "A mapping display." Google glass obviously fits into that category. So any able-minded lawyer should be able to get that part of her speeding ticket thrown out. But even she admits to the speeding part.
Anyone wonder what the impact will be on self-driving cars?
In soviet Russia, self-driving cars impact you!
I love this idea. Does anybody know whether it's been tried? Are there any logistical problems with it? Regulatory issues? What does it cost to ship a car cross-country this way? It's gotta be less than a plane ticket.
How is that not excessive security theater?
Tesla should adopt the Gadsden flag as their unofficial logo in Texas. Then they should run an ad campaign about how government regulation and lobbyists are hurting small business owners and stripping individuals of their freedom to choose a vehicle. It would surely drive up sales amongst Tea Party types here. Just don't tell them it's good for the environment.
Wait, you mean Obamacare actually has something good and sensible in it? But Fox News told me it was as bad as Hitler and slavery combined!
While I get your sideways point about gun control laws, I would like to point out that there are already common sense restrictions on the press. The same company can't own all the newspapers, TVs, and radio stations in the same market area. Unfortunately scented insert bans didn't make the cut. Or a ban on time cube...